DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. What is meant by Disaster Management? What are the different stages of

Disaster management?
Disaster management usually refers to the management of natural
calamities such as fire, flooding or earthquakes, Tsunami the stages of disaster
management are
Planning
Preparedness
Mitigation (reducing the intensity of a situation)
Response and
Recovery
2. Differentiate Natra! Disaster and Man made Disasters "ith e#am$!es.
Natural disaster is the effect of a natural haard that affects the
environment and leads to financial, environmental and! or human losses"
Natural disasters are like earth quake, a tornado, hurricane, flood,
#liard and forest fire" Manmade disasters are invents $hich either
intentionally or #y accident cause severe threats to pu#lic health and $ell%
#eing"
& man%made disaster is a flood left #y carelessly running $ater, a fire
set #y man"
%. Des&ribe the ne&essity of Ris' identifi&ation and Assessment sr(eys "hi!e
$!anning a $ro)e&t.
'hile planning a pro(ect, Disaster risk identification and assessment
$ould help the community to participatory assess the haards, $hich threaten
the community, its vulnera#ilities and capacities" )t identifies $hat elements
are at risk and analyses the causes and root cause of vulnera#le conditions"
The assessment takes into account the physical, geographical, social,
political and psychological factors that cause some people to #e particularly
e*posed to various haards"
*. What is a disaster re&o(ery and "hat does it mean to an indstry?
Disaster recovery is the process, policies and procedures related to
preparing for recovery to an organiation after a natural or human%induced
disaster"
Disaster recovery in industries includes
+ailure due to fire accidents"
+ailure due to sudden high voltage"
+ailure of machines and infra structure due to floods"
+. What are the fa&tors to be &onsidered "hi!e $!anning the rebi!ding
"or's after a ma)or disaster de to f!ood , &y&!one , earth-a'e?
The factors to #e considered $hile planning the re#uilding $orks after
a ma(or disaster due to flood ! cyclone ! earthquake are
,and use planning"
Preventing ha#itation in risk one"
Disaster resistant #uildings"
+inding $ays to reduce risk even #efore the disaster stikes"
-ommunity a$areness and education"
.. /ist ot $b!i& emergen&y ser(i&es a(ai!ab!e in the state0 "hi&h &o!d be
a$$roa&hed for he!$ dring a natra! disaster.
The pu#lic emergency services availa#le in the state, $hich could #e
approached for help during a natural disaster are
Police .//
+ire -ontrol ./.
&m#ulance of +ire 0ervices Department ./1
Traffic Police ./2
&m#ulance 0ervices ./3
,ions 4lood 4ank .5./
-hild ,ine ./53
." Tamilnadu fire and rescue services for search and rescue"
1" 6overnment hospitals for health and first aid"
2" ,ocal N00 $ing for relief co%ordination"
1. S$e&ify the ro!e $!ayed by an Engineer in the $ro&ess of Disaster
Management.
Disaster is threat to environment and the society" Disaster
management deals $ith preparations to reduce the impact of natural or man%
made disasters" Role of an 7ngineer is
To carry out the four phases of disaster management, mitigation,
preparedness, response, and recovery"
Mitigation focuses on avoiding haards or reducing the impact of
disaster"
Preparedness involves developing action plans to com#at disaster $hen
it happens"
Response includes mo#iliation of emergency services for evacuation
and rescue operations"
Recovery is involved in the re#uilding process"
2. What is the &ase for Earth-a'es? 3o" they are measred?
&n earthquake (also kno$n as a tremor or tem#lor) is the result of a
sudden release of energy in the 7arth8s crust that creates seismic $aves !
7arthquake are recorded $ith a seismometer, also kno$n as a seismography in
Richter magnitude"
The magnitude 2 or lo$er earthquakes #eing mostly impercepti#le and
magnitude 9 causing serious damage over large areas" )ntensity of shaking is
measured on the modified Mercalli scale"
The follo$ing parts in )ndia are more vulnera#le for frequent
earthquakes"
." 6u(arath, 1" &ssam, 2" :ammu and ;ashmir, <" 4ihar, =" Manipur"
4. What "as the &ase for the Tsnami 255* "hi&h inf!i&ted hea(y !oss to !ife
and $ro$erty a!ong the &oast of Tami!nad? S$e&ify its e$i&enter and
magnitde.
& Tsunami is a high of $ater $aves that is caused $hen a large
volume of a #ody of $ater, such an ocean, is rapidly displaced"
-ause> & Tsunami can #e generated $hen convergent or destructive
plate #oundaries a#ruptly move and vertically displace the overlaying $ater"
This is #ecause constructive or conservative #oundaries do not generally
distur# the vertical displacement of the $ater column" 0u#duction one
related earthquakes generate the ma(ority of all Tsunamis"
7picentre and Magnitude of Tsunami 1//<> The 1//< )ndian ?cean
earthquake $as an undersea megathrust that occurred at //@=3@=2 AT- on
Decem#er 1B, 1//<, $ith an epicenter off the $est coast of 0umatra $ith a
magnitude of #et$een 5". and 5"2 in richter scale" )t is the second largest
earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph" This earthquake had the longest
duration of faulting ever o#served, #et$een 3"2 and ./ minutes"
15. S$e&ify the earth-a'e 3a6ard 6ones in "hi&h the fo!!o"ing to"ns of
Tami!inad !ie7 8a9 :hennai 8b9 Naga$attinam 8&9 :oimbatore 8d9
Madrai 8e9 Sa!em.
;!a&e Ty$e of <one Rating
-hennai ,o$ haard /"2 C /"=
Nagapattinam ,o$ haard /
Madurai ,o$ haard /
-oim#atore Moderate haard /"9 C /"3
0alem ,o$ haard /
11. Whi&h $arts of India are e#$erien&ing fre-ent natra! &a!amities s&h as
8a9 hea(y rain fa!! 8b9 hge !osses de to f!oods 8&9 se(ere &y&!ones.
Davey rainfall -heraphun(i
Duge losses due to floods ?rissa, 'est 4engal, &ndhra Pradesh,
Tamilnadu
0evers -yclones 6u(arat, Ra(astan, Pun(a#, Dariyana,
Delhi, Attarpradesh, 4ihar, &ssam
'est#engal, ?rissa, &ndhra Pradesh,
;erala"
12. Define basi& "ind s$eed. What "i!! be the $ea' "ind s$eed in 8a9 =ery
high damage ris' 6one > A0 8b9 3igh damage ris' 6one0 8&9 /o" damage
ris' 6one?
The average speed of air in a particular area is called the #asic $ind
speed of that area"
1%. S$e&ify the minimm distan&e from the seashore and minimm height
abo(e the mean sea !e(e!0 desirab!e for the !o&ation of bi!dings.
The desira#le minimum distance from the seashore for the location of
#uildings is =//meters" The desira#le minimum height a#ove the mean sea
level for #uildings is 3. feet"
1*. E#$!ain ho" the to$ogra$hy of the site $!ays a ro!e in the disasters &ased
by f!oods and &y&!ones.
Topography is the features and configuration of land surfaces"
Topographic maps use sym#ols and coloring, $ith particular attention given to
the shape and elevations"
The shape of ne$ #uildings is the most important single factor in
determining the performance of #uildings in cyclones" 0imple,
compact, symmetrical shapes are #est"
The square plan is #etter than the rectangle since it allo$s high $inds
to go around them,"
The rectangle is #etter than the ,%shaped plan"
)f longer shapes are used, they must #e designed to $ithstand the
forces
?f the $ind" Most houses are rectangular and the #est layout is $hen
the length is not more than three times the $idth"
)n case of construction of group of #uildings, a cluster arrangement can
#e follo$ed in preference to ro$ type"
The location of the #uilding is also an important factor"
1+. E#$!ain ho" the sha$e and orientation of bi!dings &o!d red&e the
damages de to &y&!ones.
0tructures need to #e #uilt to $ithstand $ind forces" 6ood site
selection is also important" Ma(ority of the #uildings in coastal areas are #uilt
$ith locally availa#le materials and have no engineering input" 6ood
construction practice should #e adopted" The square shape and cluster
arrangement may reduce the damages due to cyclones"
1.. What is a &y&!one she!ter? When and "here it is $ro(ided? What are its
re-irements?
-yclone shelters are the places used to accommodate the cyclone%
affected persons during cyclones"
)t is provided in densely populated coastal areas and $here large scale
evacuations are not al$ays feasi#le"
Re-irements7 These #uildings can #e so designed, so as to provide a #lank
facade, $ith a minimum of apertures in the direction of the prevailing $inds"
The shorter side of the #uilding should face the storm"
&lternately these #uildings can #e designed on a circular!ellipsoidal
plan, so as to impart least $ind resistance"
7arth #eams and green #elts can #e used in front of these #uildings to
reduce the impact of the storm"
These shelters should #e located in relatively elevated areas $ith
provision for kitchen, and $ater supply"
11. What $re&ationary measres ha(e to be ta'en by the athorities
before o$ening a dam for dis&harging the e#&ess "ater into a &ana!,ri(er?
River side residents are to #e alerted through radio, television and loud
speakers"
'eakened river #anks to #e strengthened #y placing sand #ags"
Rescue arrangements to #e made such as plastic #oats, fire and rescue
department may #e #rought nearer to dam"
12. What are the &ases for fire a&&idents? S$e&ify the remedia! measres
to be ta'en in bi!dings to a(oid fire a&&idents.
There are numerous causes of fire"
Deating sources are often causes of fire"
7lectrical $iring can causes fire if it is not large enough to carry the
load #eing supplied"
Ru##ish and $aste materials that are left to accumulate can easily
contri#ute top the spread of fire"
-om#usti#le materials like flamma#le liquids or gases stored in $ork
place can #e e*tremely dangerous"
Remedial Measures
Don8t keep highly flamma#le liquids in the #uilding"
Don8t plug several devices into one socket"
;eep a$ay flamma#le material from heat source"
Don8t smoke inside the house"
Determine at least t$o $ays to escape from #uilding and practice the
escape plan at least t$ice a year"
)n the event of fire call, provide them $ith your address and the nature
and location of the fire"
Dave a fire e*tinguisher readily"
14. What is a fire es&a$e in m!tistoried bi!dings? What are its
re-irements?
& fire escape in multistoried #uilding is a means of rapid access (e*it)
from the #uilding" Primarily it is intended for use in case of fire"
+ire escape requirements are
0afety ladder"
& knotted rope or rope ladder"
Descending devices"
7scape chutes"
7nclosed fire and smoke proof stair $ays"
)nterior fire escape chutes"
)nterior fire escape chutes"
7*terior fire escape stair $ay"
&erial ladder"
25. 3o" the inmates of a m!tistory bi!ding are to be e(a&ated in the e(ent
of a fire,&hemi&a! s$i!!,To#i& Air Sitation,Terrorist atta&'. 8Any one may
be as'ed9
7mergency corridor and ladder for multi%storied #uilding comprising a
#ridge corridor, a safety ladder and a temporary emergency shelter"
This arrangements is to provided in each floor of the multi%stored
#uilding"
The #ridge corridor is connected to the emergency e*it on each floor,
#oth sides of the #ridge corridor are respectively provided $ith a fire%
#locking $all, and a safety ladder is pro%vided along the #ridge
corridor such that the safety ladder are connected together from the top
floor to the ground level"
0aid safety ladder has a passage to the sun deck of the emergency
shelter" & feed though emergency escape rod is provided in the
emergency shelter in $hich a man hole is opened in alternate floors"
The man hole can also #e used to cooperate $ith the emergency escape
rod so that people can side do$n to the ground level" )N addition an
intermediate $all is provided for an upper and a lo$er safety ladder"
&n automatic sprinkler system can #e provided on the intermediate
$all" Moreover, the #ridge corridor and the #ottom of the safety ladder
are also ladder are also provided $ith a plurality of automatic
sprinklers such that the sprinkler turns on $hen a fire #reaks out and
all personnel can pass through the #ridge corridor safely to enter into
the emergency shelter"
Provision of in storm escape chute" )t is a fast and efficient escape
system" Depending upon the length and construction it ena#les as
many as 2/ people a minute from danger of fire"
21. Des&ribe different fire fighting arrangements to be $ro(ided in an
Indstry.
The different fire fighting arrangements to #e provided in an )ndustry
are
+ire e*tinguishers
Multistage pumps
0and #uckets
+ire fighting ro#ots
+ire 7ngine
22. E#$!ain the ne&essity of disaster "arning systems in Indstries.
Many effects $ill happen if there8s no disaster $arning system"
To avoid the physical damage (damage of loss of #uildings and service
structure)"
To avoid causalities"
To safeguard the $orker8s health"
To safeguard the po$er supply and communication system"
2%. E#$!ain ho" res&e o$erations ha(e to be &arried ot in the &ase of
&o!!a$se of bi!dings de to earth-a'e,b!ast,&y&!one,f!ood.
)f an emergency is occurred it should #e notified to the rescuers like
fire and rescue department"
Rescuers locate the trapped person" Then dig or cut them free from
collapsed #uilding" The location of people under ru##le and their
e*cavations can #e achieved $ith relatively simple search and rescue
technique"
+irst aid is provided to retrieved persons from the #uilding" -ollapsed
structures of #uilding are removed #y using crane and other lifting
devices"
2*. What are the ne&essary ste$s to be ta'en to a(oid dangeros e$idemi&s
after a f!ood disaster?
The necessary steps to #e taken to avoid dangerous epidemics after a
flood disaster are
-ontingency plan for response should #e prepared after identifying the
epidemics that are likely to occur in the region"
7arly $arning system #y a surveillance system is the primary
requirement so as to have an effective response and prevent any out
#reaks"
Maps of all the health facilities in the region $ith an inventory of drugs
and vaccines, la#oratory set ups, list of num#er of doctors and
supporting staff etc", need to #e kept ready and updated at regular
intervals"
Personal protection through vaccination is an effective mitigation
strategy and $ill protect the persons at risk"
Training need to #e given at all levels so as to #uild the capacity of
people at all levels, Training $ill help to cope #etter during the
emergency response period of epidemics"
2+. What re!ief "or's that ha(e to be &arried ot to sa(e the !i(es of "or'ers
"hen the fa&tory area is sdden!y affe&ted by a dangeros gas
!ea',sdden f!ooding?
The relief $orks that have top #e carried out to save the lives of
$orkers $hen the factory are is suddenly affected #y>
The safety mask provided in the place must #e used immediately"
Relief gas provided in the factory should #e sprinkled automatically"
They must #e evacuated from the place to safety place #y the provided
means of conveyance" 0udden flood"
They must evacuate to safer areas #y using plastic #oats"
'e have to initiate the drainage process"
Measures include use of sand #ags to keep flood $ater a$ay"
4locking of doors and $indo$s of quarters"
-all for emergencies like fire service, national safe guard service, Red
-ross, N00 and N-- volunteers for rescue operation"